Freddie Mac's Latest Aid Request Shows Steep Drop

WASHINGTON -- Government-controlled mortgage giant Freddie Mac has requested just $146 million in additional aid after posting a smaller loss in the fourth quarter.

That's far less than in the third quarter, when Freddie received $6 billion from the government. It received $7.6 billion for all of 2011.

Freddie Mac said Thursday that it lost $1 billion, or 32 cents per share, in the October-December quarter. That compares with a loss of $1.72 billion, or 53 cents a share, in the same quarter of 2010.